Mechanical milk cooler



Aug. 26, N c-{s MECHANICAL MILK COOLER Filed June 20, 1940 .Faq

III l// /I INVENTOR Nic/70 (as A ch S a H/s ATTORNEY I Patented Aug. 26, l94l j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2353332 MECHANICAL m oooLEa Nicholas Achs, Detroit, Mich., assignor tu Frederick T. Hicks, Detroit, Mich.

Application June zo, 1940, Serial No. 341.401 i 4 claim. (ci. 432-101) "unit with the tankand arranged for more efliciently circulating the cooling liquid to 'and from 'the cooling tank into intimate heat'exchange g' `relation with the refrigerated open-type cooling v c element, with freedom from congealing on the u cooling element.

`It is also an object of my invention to provide such a mechanical milk cooler comprising a partition disposed vertically in the cabinet for dividing oil a chill chamber, the partition being selected of suitable dimensions and suitably positioned so that the top edge thereof is lower'than the lowest level of the cooling water or other liqui'cl in the cooling tank when there are no milk containers therein, a retrigerated open-type cooling element* suitably disposed 'inthe chill chamber ior passing ,the cooling liquid there- 'through in intimateheat exchanging relation as it -fiows from the 'cooling tank over the top of the partition into the chill chamber, and pump means tor removing the chilled cooling liquid 'from the bottom of the chill chamber and delivering it into the cooling tank.

' It is a further object of my invention to provide such a mechanical milk cooler wherein the pump me ans is a motorizedsump-type pump mounted upon the-cabinet with the motor above the top wall and the pump disposed in the bottom of the chill chamber to be immersed in' the chilled cooling liquidflowing down through the cooling element, and conduitsextending from the sump e pump for delivering the chilled liquid to the remote endj of the 'coolingtank into the upper portion thereof. i

Another object of my invention is to provide such a mechagical milk cooler which is conveniently adapted for either cooling milk in cans or similar containers or for supplying chilled cooling liquid for cooling milk directly in* counter-flow, heat exchan'gers and similar milk cooling apparatu's, or tonsupplying water under pressure when tap water is not available. i

Further objects and-advantages are within the of yitrifled porcelain or similar material.

scope of my invention such as relate to the arrangement, operation and !unction of the related elements, to various details of construction and to combinations of parts, elements per se, and to economics of manufacture and to numerous other features as will be apparent from `a consideration of the speciflcation in conjunction with the drawing disclosing a form of my in vention, in which: v

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view oi my improved mechanical milk cooler the cabinet being partially broken away and sectioned to show the internal construction and arrangement, and

Fig.-2 is a cross sectional View taken on line 2-2 of'Fig. 1 and showing a top plan view of the internal arrangement of the milkcooler.

, Referring more specifically to the drawing, my mechanicaLmilk cooler comprises a heat insulating cabinet I' enclosing a coolingtank 3 tor receiving milk cans 5 to be immersed in a cooling liquid for absorbing the heat and' chilling the milk. For this purpose the heat insulating cabinet may be of any well known construction commonly used for retrigerators, and the like.

As shown in Fig. 2, I preferably construct the cabinet of four vertically disposed corner pieces 'I of timber, which may be, about two inches square in cross section, and'which are covered on the outside and secured together by suitable boards 9 which may be about one inch thick. The walls of the ,cabinet are covered and closed or sealed by means'o sheet metal inside and outside liners Il and |3 respectively. The liners may be of any suitable sheet metal 'such as galvanized iron, copper or the like, and if desire`d the linersmay beprovlded with alayer Reinforcing timbers |5 extend vertic'ally through the -side walls at spaced intervals and the spaces between the vertical corner timbers "and the side wall timbers I 5 are packed with any suitable thermal insulating material l'l' such as Celotex,

cork, glass wool, metallated wool or the like.

` As shown more clearly in Fig. 1, the floor of the cabinet comprises a lower floor IS and an upper floor 2| of boards separated by cross boards 23 andhaving the spaces therebetween I packed with the insulation material IT. The sheet metal liners I I and' i: extend over'the outside and the insidejof the floor of the cabinet.

Cleats or wooden strips 25 are placed on the floor of the cabinet a; spaced intervals to sup- .port the milk cami-while permitting the cooling liquid to circulate-Ireely thereunder. The upper wall ot the cabinetj isfprovided with a closure member or door Z'l which is pivotally Secured to one side or the cabinet by suitable hinges 29. The closure is conveniently opened, by means of a handle 3| provided on the opposite side thereoi', tor the insertion and removal ot milk cans.

A partition 33, which is vertically disposed in the cabinet, extends transversely across adjacent one end !or dividing of! a chill chamber 35. The partition 33 may be oi' any suitable sheet metal having lateraliy bent edges 31 for abutting the inside liner ll to which it may be secured in any suitable manner, as by soldering for example. The partition 33 issuitably selected and positioned so that the top edge -thereoi is slightly lower than the lowest level of the cooling water or other liquid in the cooling tank 3 when there are no milk contalners therein, so that the cooling liquid will then continue flowing and circulating over the partition.

An overflow pipe 38 is mounted vertically in one comer of the tenk' 3 passing downwardly through the floor for connection with a drain. The' upper open end of the overflow pipe is at a suitable level to drain excessive cooling iluid from the tank 3.

A reirigerated open-type cooling element, such as a flnned coil 39, is mounted in the chill chamber in a suitable position tor passing cooling liquid therethrough in intimate heat exchange ;relation as it flows .from the cooling tank over the partition. 33 into the chamber. For this 'purpose the tinned refrigerated coil 39 is pre!- erably mounted in a horizontalposition in the chill chamber 35 between the partition 33 and the end of the cabinet. The level of the ilnned coil 39 may be slightly below the upper edge of the partition 33. One end of the retrigerated coil 39 is connected to a usual reirigerant regulating valve 4I.

From the other end ot the refrigerated coil 39 a conduit 43 extends through the top wall of the cabinet to the suction side oi' a refrigerant compressor unit 45 which is mounted on top of the cabinet. For this purpose any suitable compressor unit may be used, for example such as the compact sealed-in unit 45 of conventional construction shown mounted on the top wall of the cabinet by brackets 41. From the high pres'- sure side of the unit a pipe 48 connectsinto the upper end of a condenser 49 of conventional construction, such as a flnned coil, for dissipating the heat to the surrounding atmosphere. For circulating air through the condenser 49, a tan 5| 'is mounted adjacent thereto on the extended end oi a shaft of a small motor 53 which may be mounted on the top wall of the cabinet. From the lower end of the condenser coil 49 a small pipe 55 passes down through the 'top wall of the cabinet and connects into the automatic refrigerant regulating valve 4| which automatically regulates the proper supply of condensed refrigerant to the` flnned cooling coil 39 in the chill chamber 35 in a well known manner.

To circulate the chilled cooling liquid from 6 the chill chamber 35 to the cooling tank 3, a motorized sump-type pump 51 is provided which is mounted on the cabinet with the motor 59 above the top wall,` the pump shaft SI and enclosing tube Sii-passing down through the top wall into the chill chamber where the pump 65 is nounted adjacent the floor for drawing up the chilled liquid flowing downwardly through the finned coil. such sump pumps usually have a guard ring 61 projecting downwardly and. t is 2,25s,ss2

guard preferably rests on the floor oi the cabinet. There `are various sump pumps of this type available on the market which are compact units very suitable for this purpose. A baiile plate 69 of sheet metal is provided surrounding the shait tube 83 of the motor and extending between the partition 33, the adiacent end oi the chill coil 39 and the side walls oi the cabinet for diverting the cooling liquid ilowing over the top of the partition to flow down through the cooling coil. The marginal edges ot the baiile may be turned to provide lateral flanges 'll for attachment to the partition and the liner of the cabinet. The reirigerant regulation valve 4| is preferably mounted upon the upper side of the bame plate SS which serves as a rigid support thereior.

For delivering the chilled cooling .liquid from.

the pump 85, a conduit 13 connects from 'the 'discharge outlet thereof and passes upwardiy through `'a three-way 'valve 15 into a T connection 11. From the `T ilxture TI two pipes 13 branch of! to opposite :sides 'of "the tan'k extending along 'theside 'walls 'to the :rear of the itank 'where 'the chilled liquid is discharged. The ;pipes "IS are secured 'to 'the inside' liner III ot the 'tank "in any suitable imanner as %by brackets Il sweatsoldered'there'to. ?Fromthe 'other port of the three-'way'valve 15 ;an outside connection condu'it 33 aextends projecting externa'lly 'through the top'wall oi the cabinet. The externaliy pro- ;jected end of the connection 'pipe 33 is .suitably threaded 'to 'provide a convenient connection 'tor coupling with any hose or other conduit means for delivering `chilled cooling liquid ;for cooling milk directly .in any suitable milk cooling appao ratus such :as a conventional counter-flow 'heat exchanger or the like (not shown) which may be mounted on or adjacent to. the cabinet the cooling liquid being then returned to the tenk in the cabinet, for' recirculation through the flns of the cooling unit 39.

when the three-way valve 15 is turned to one position, for example verticaliy as shown, the outside connection is closed and the liquid is returned to the tank 3 through the side pipes 19. When the three-way valve 15 is turned to the alternate position, the connection to the tank side pipes 's is closed and the chilled cooling liquid is delivered through the outside connection 83. This arrangement is also useful for supplying water under pressure in locations where tap water is not available. For this purpose the refrigerant compressor 45 may not be operated. For cooling purposes, the electric motor of the compressor unit 45 is preierably controlled automatically by any'. conventional thermostatic switch (not shown) which is preferably mounted in the tank for this purpose. The motor 59 of the pump is for this purpose prcferably connected in parallel with the compressor motor for simultaneous automatic control by the same thermostatic switch, suitable manual switch means being preferably provided for also controlling the pump motor separately in a convenient manner, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. A suitable shield or guard 81 of open work grill or screen Construction is preferably provided on top of the cooling liquid in the tank rises and fiows over' The pump 65 then receives the chilled cooling liquid and returns it to the cooling tank at a high level in the rear portion thereof. In this manner of operation high thermal efliciency is obtained with a minimum of congealing of the cooling water, or other cooling liquid, on the cooling coils. It will be seen that I have provided a simple compact cooling unit which is also conveniently adapted for supplying chilled cooling liquid externally through the outside connection for other purposes, or for supplying water'under pressure where regular tap water is not available.

It is apparent that within the scope of my invention, modifications and difierent arrangements may be made other than herein disolosed. and the present disclosure is illustrative merely, the invention comprehending variations thereof.

I claim:

1. A mechanical milk cooler comprising a heat insulating cabinet enclosing a milk cooling tank. partiton means disposed in said cabinet for oviding o' a chill chamber, said partition means being suitably selected and positioned so that the top edge thereof is slightly lower than the desired level of cooling liquid in said cooling tank so that the cooling liquid continues fic-wing over the partition and circulating when there are no milk containers therein, an open-type cooling element suitably disp'osed in said chill chamber for passing cooling liquid therethrough in intimate heat exchange relation as it fiows from the cooling tank over the top of said partition into the chill chamber, conduit means connecting from the chill chamber to said cooling tank and comprising branches extending to the upper portion at opposite sides of the tank.

'and liquid impelling means for moving the chilled cooling liquid from the bottom of the chill chamber through said conduit means into i.

the cooling tank. I

2. A mechanical milk cooler comprising, a heat insulating cabinet cuclosing a milk cooling tank,

*a partition disposed vertically in said cabinet adjacent one end thereof for segregating a chill on said cabinet with the motor above the top wall thereof and the pump disposed in the bottom of said chill chamber to be immersed in the chilled cool ng liquid fiowing through'the cooling element into the chamber, baflle means surrounding the -shaft of said sump pump between the partition and the end of the cabinet for diverting the down fiowing cooling liquid through the cooling coil, and conduit means extendng from thesump pump for delivering chilled lquid to the remotevfend of the cooling tank into the upper portiontherjeoi.

3. A mechanical milk cooler comprising, a heat insulating cab net enclosing a milk cooling tank, a parttion disposed vertically across one end of said cabinet for dividing oa a chill chamber, said partition being suitably selected and positioned so that the top edge thereof is slightly lower than the lowest level of the coolingliquid in said cooling tank so that circulation of the cooling liquid continues when there are no milk containers theren, an open-type cooling element suitably disposed in said chill chamber for passing cooling liquid the'ethrough in intimate heat exchange relation as it flows from the cooling tank over the top of said partition into the chill chamber, a motorized sump pump mounted on said cabinet, with the motor above the top wall thereof and the pump adjacent the bottom of v said chill chamber for drawing' chilled Iiqud therefrom, and condu t means connecting from said pump and arranged for delivering chllled cooling liquid into the upper portion of -said tank at a plurality of points.

4. A mechanical milk cooler comprising, a heat insulating cabinet enclosing a milk cooling tank, partition means disposed in saidcabinet for segregatng a chill chamber, said partition being of suitable dimensions and suitably posltioned so that the top edge thereof is slightly lower than the desired level of the cooling liquid in the cooling tank to continue the circulation thereof when there are no milk-containers therein, a refrigerant cooled open-type cooling element mounted in said chill chamber for passing 4 cooling liquid therethrough in intimate heat exchamber, said partition being of suitable dimenv sions and suitably positioned so that thetop edge thereof is slightly lower than the lowest level of the cooling liquid in the cooling tankso that circulation continues when there are no milk containers there n, a finned refrigerant cooled coil mounted horizontally in said chill chamber between said partition and the end of the cabinet for passing cooling liquid therethrough in intimate heat exchange relation as it flows from the cooling tank over the partition into the chamber, a motorized sump-type -pump mounted into the upper portion on change' relation as it'flows from the cooling tank over the partition into the chamber, a motorized sump-type pump mounted on said cabinet 'with the motor above the top wall thereof and the pump disposed in the bottom of said chill chamber to be immersed in the chilled cooling liquid flowing through th'e cooling element into the chambenconduit means extending from the sump-pump for delivering chilled liquid. and said conduit means comprising extending to the remote end of the cooling tank both sides thereof.

NICHOLAS Aci-IS.`

two divided branches 

